"When I found the one I love, I held him and would not let him go" (Song of Solomon 3:4). My name is Kristy Dykes, and I write Christian love stories for Barbour Publishing...perhaps because I live with a hero husband. At this site, I cover marriage, romance, and Christian fiction. These book titles make me smile--and offer great truths: Sometimes I Wake Up Grumpy and Sometimes I Let Him Sleep, Love Extravagantly, Every Marriage Is A Fixer-Upper, Red-Hot Monogamy.

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

CUDDLING NOSE TO NOSE

Milton, here for Kristy:

I wrote the following on Tuesday afernoon.

When talk turns into whispers

When dreams glimmer with dimming future

And reflections loom larger

Then hearts beat closer.

When longings grow bigger

And hope seems faint

When eyes cannot stay open

And hands weaken

When sharing is strained and

When thoughts wander

And kisses are no longer

Yet our love is far more stronger.

Then nose to nose we cuddle

Gently, without words,

Sweetly, tenderly

As close as lovers share,

Nose to nose remembering

With smell

And romantic wonder.

Nose to nose cuddling with

Hearts forever bound together.

***

Today I drew close and lovingly cuddled Kristy's nose and asked, "Do you mind if I do this?"

She responded, "It's OK for us to do this."

***

How Is Kristy?

Tuesday Kristy was sleepy with brief communications. She drank more fluids and seems to be holding her own. Behind all that daintiness and lady-likeness is one tough little cookie.

Please keep praying for Kristy and for us. Remember Julie in prayer especially. She is having some physical issues and is not feeling well.

What wonderful words Milton, you are truly a romantic and an author in your own right. Special prayers are going up for Julie's complete and rapid healing. I'm still praying and believing for Kristy's healing right alongside you and your family. Praying for peace that passes understanding to cover you all.Blessings,Karen Wevick

Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place; I can feel his mighty power and his grace. I can hear the brush of angels' wings, I see glory on each face; surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.

As I did my morning walk this morning all I could think of was Kristy and this song. I don't even know you people but God has put you in my life via the web and I am praying for your family. The Lord's love and grace and cancer are our common bonds. Please know that you all are surrounded and lifted up.B HerringMississippi

Pastor, Kristy, and all of your sweet family,I have been praying every day for God's mercy, grace, and healing since I learned of Kristy's illness in November and continue to pray with all my heart. I am so sorry and apologize for not posting a comment before as reading this beautiful 'Christian Love Story' has become a part of my daily life. I print it periodically to share with my Mother as she does not have a computer and keeps all of you in her heart and prayers daily too. She has cared for Kristy and your family for many years as she was blessed to call Kristy’s Mother, Grace, a dear friend. I have hesitated adding a post as I have trouble expressing in words my sentiments for you and your family when reading so many wonderful comments from those who can do so. You will never know how much 'healing' and ‘inspiration’ you have provided to so many as you have so devotedly and courageously shared your faith, love, happiness, and tears during this journey. What a sweet, precious family all of you are and how blessed to have each other. I have laughed, cried, sang, and laughed some more with your family. Thank you for opening your hearts and sharing so much. I hope you can find comfort in knowing how much each of you has touched other’s lives. I continue to keep all of you in my prayers. God Bless!

Pastor and Kristy, you are the most inspiring and real-life example of how each of us should strive to live our lives in praise and devotion to Him. I want to THANK YOU BOTH from the depths of my heart for helping me grow in my faith, in my walk with the Lord. I am blessed to know you both; to have heard you preach Pastor; to have heard you speak Kristy and to have read your sweet love stories. You are a magnificent writer who captivates your readers (I can’t hardly put the book down once I start) and makes them feel as if they are living the story. Each romance story I have read helps me to be a better wife; helps me to remember to look to and trust in Him for the way. Both of you have touched my life forever. I will never be able to tell you how much you lifted me, my Mom, and my family when we were in the depths of despair during the journey with my Dad’s illness, his Homecoming, and when we tragically lost my brother too soon in a car accident as he also went to be with the Lord. Pastor I will never forget you standing by my side in the hospital giving me strength with your words of faith. It is so easy to understand why Kristy sees you as her ‘hero’ husband. I am sure your daughters and grandchildren feel the same…their hero Dad; their hero Papa. You have been a hero to many as well as Kristy herself has. I only wish I could stand by your side lifting your spirits, reassuring you with His word, and giving you peace as you did for me. I know you take comfort in knowing that He is a very strong presence in your loving home and His loving, caring arms are holding each one of you. Know that the comfort of His presence with your family is spread to all those who have you in their prayers. God is good! God is great!! Let us thank Him for each and every sweet, precious moment.

Your testimony of His unconditional love being lived out through you is reaching into the hearts of thousands. The steadfast love you have for each other through all the years is powerfully touching us all. As we see the sanctity of marriage undermind today, I can only imagine how difficult it is for people to go through the ups an downs without the Lord Jesus Christ and commitment to honor Him. This journey with brain cancer has been a more powerful witness than any book. You are living it out in front of thousands of readers. His name is being exalted above all, and His sufficiency through any and all circumstances is evident to us all. We are praying without ceasing.

I want to share a song with you. I hope you have time to follow the link below.http://talleytree-o.com/I don't know if you've heard of the Talley Trio, but they are a wonderful Southern gospel family group. Their music truly reflects their heart for the Lord.

They are currently preparing a new album, and are posting "scratch vocal" versions (not finals--first drafts or working copies, if you will) of the songs on their website for fans to comment/make suggestions on.

Quite simply, today's song is your journey. I listened in tears, and I am sure that this song will minister to your hearts as well.

I pray for you every day. My heart is touched deeply by your evidence of faith. I pray a special blessing on every member of your family today.

I just got this wonderful email from Kathy Walter's ministries and felt led to share it. No matter what the circumstance looks like, expect a miracle! Sharon

My name is Abby. I am 14 years old. I live in western North Carolina. During the summer of 2008, I went on a ministry trip to Guatemala. During part of the trip, we divided up into small ministry teams (5 to 7 people) and visited different villages in the San Pedro La Laguna area. We traveled from village to village telling the Indian people about Jesus. On one particular day, we were visiting in the home of young woman. She lived in a small village of about 14 or 15 houses. We were trying to lead the young lady to Christ, but it was not going very well. After awhile, we decided to move on. Before leaving, we asked the woman if we could pray with her about anything in her life. She told us that just the day before, she had given birth to a stillborn baby and that we could pray with her about that.

In Guatemalan culture there is great shame and condemnation on mothers who give birth to deformed or stillborn children. We prayed a simple prayer that everything would go well with the funeral and burial of the baby and that the mother would be spared the shame and condemnation associated with having given birth to a stillborn child. As we were praying this simple prayer, my friend and fellow ministry team member, Julia (age 17), told me that we needed to pray over the baby's body. I thought she was crazy to suggest this and that it was not a good idea. Julia was persistent. She said again that we really needed to pray over the baby's body. She told me to ask the mother if she still had the baby's body. When I asked, the mother told us the baby's body was wrapped up in a burial cloth in the backroom. I asked her if we could pray over the body. The mother hesitantly said, yes. We went into the backroom and saw the baby's body wrapped up in a bundle on the bed. Julia poked her head out of the back room and asked if she could unwrap the baby's head. The mother said, yes, if we wrapped it back correctly when we were done. Julia picked up the body and unwrapped the head. The baby's head was tiny and pale. The baby was stillborn and had been dead outside the womb for 27 hours. Her skin had turned shades of purple. Our entire ministry team, five of us, began crying and praying over this baby. We prayed for thirty to forty minutes. At the end of that time, Julia screamed out to God, telling him that she believed with all of her heart that this baby could be raised from the dead. After Julia screamed out, everyone was silent. We were quietly interceding and praying. Within a few minutes, the baby started moving. Then the baby coughed and began crying. The mother came rushing into the room. She was screaming, what is going? No one could answer her. We were just staring at the baby, who had come back to life. The mother asked us again, what is going on? She began crying as she saw that her baby was alive. She ran out of the house and banged on every door in the village, telling all of the people that God is real because her baby was alive. Within about thirty minutes, the baby's skin tone and movements had become completely normal.

The other villagers came to the house to see this amazing miracle. They asked us which of the Indian gods we had prayed to for such a miracle to happen. We told them we had prayed to the biggest God ever and we began to explain to them about Jesus. Soon, we realized we would not have time to minister salvation to each person individually. So, we gathered all the villagers together, turned on our little sound system and explained the way of salvation. Everyone in the village, 80 to 90 people, prayed to receive Jesus. Each of them was baptized in the Holy Spirit and began speaking in tongues. Many would fall to the ground as the power of the Holy Spirit came on them.

Five days later, we returned to the village to check in on the mother and the baby. The village had prepared a big dinner in honor of our team. We enjoyed a wonderful time of fellowship together. The baby, whom they named Julia, was perfectly healthy and had gained weight. Even after five days, the mother was still shaking from the impact of God on her life through the resurrection of her child. Two days after our follow-up visit, the mother brought baby Julia to church. The mother was still shaking from the power of God on her life following this astounding miracle.

Praying for you and Kristy and Julie and all your family as you wait on the Lord. Sending hugs and blessings to all, even that poor deacon in the closet. (I think that image has traumatized me forever!)

Also, I'm still smarting over that "fateo" you gave me to type in some time ago. I don't believe in fate. That leaves fat-e-o. Thanks a lot. : )

Thought you may enjoy this video. The song is called Healer (This is our God.) By Hillsong. The guy singing the lead part has terminal cancer. He wrote the song when he got his diagnosis. I hope you will be blessed by it. We are praying for you and your family. For peace that passes all understanding. Complete healing and restoration of mind body and spirit. Thank you for sharing your lives with us so that our lives could be better because of it. I wished there was a way to hug your necks and tell you how your love and the Holy Spirit just pours from your site. Your family is incredible and you have many people praying and believing with you from all over. God bless you!!

What a precious poem. The words are so sweet,so loving. You truly capture the love you and Kristy share. I am praying for you and Kristy and your family. May God bless each one of you with His peace and comfort.

About Me

“Pizzazz! Enthusiasm! High energy! Those are a few of the words that describe Kristy Dykes. From the moment she steps up to the platform, she captivates your attention. As both a writer and a speaker, Kristy is moving and motivating. She will touch your heart with love and laughter.”-- FLORENCE LITTAUER. A former newspaper columnist, Kristy Dykes is an award-winning author of 10 Christian fiction titles as well as over 600 articles in many publications including two New York Times subsidiaries. Her titles have been on the Christian bestsellers list and Top 20 List at christianbook.com, and have won many awards including Second Place in the 2007 Barclay Gold, Third Place in the 2007 Inspirational Readers Choice Contest, and Third Place in the ACFW 2006 Book of the Year Contest (novella category). Kristy writes a column for the ezine of the inspirational chapter of Romance Writers of America, has taught at many conferences and two colleges, and speaks for women's and writers' events.
Living a kaleidoscopic life as a pastor’s wife, she jokes that she has 1.2 million acts of kindness in circulation instead of 1.2 million books. And she loves every minute of it!

A RECENT AWARD

Kristy won Second Place in the 2007 Barclay Gold for her novella "Angel Food" in the 4-in-1 collection Kiss the (Cook) Bride. She won Third Place for the same title in the 2007 Inspirational Readers Choice Contest, awarded by FHL, the inspirational chapter of Romance Writers of America. Kristy also won Third Place in the 2006 Book of the Year Contest, awarded by American Christian Fiction Writers, for her novella "Reunited" in the 4-in-1 collection Wedded Bliss?.

KRISTY'S PUBLISHED WORKS

The Heart of the Matter

Kiss the Bride

Wedded Bliss?

Room At the Inn

Holiday At the Inn

The Tender Heart

Church in the Wildwood

Sweet Liberty

American Dream

KRISTY'S UPCOMING RELEASE

Florida Weddings (Spring '08)

KRISTY'S LATEST BOOKS

1) The Heart of the Matter, a novel, is now available at christianbook.com. "Can Luke overcome his vain prejudice? Can Jeris allow her tender heart to trust again? Will they let God show them the heart of the matter?" (1 Samuel 16:7) 2) Kiss the Bride, a 4-in-1 novella collection, is also available. Coauthors: Kristy Dykes, Aisha Ford, Vickie McDonough, Carrie Turansky. Plot: Four restaurant owners discover a dash of hope, a dollop of longing, and a plateful of faith are the recipe for romance.